
26
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON QUARTERLY
done, thou good and faithful servant: . . . enter thou into
the joy of thy Lord."
5.
"They [the evil servants] longed not for His appear-
ing, and thought there was no need of such continued, perse-
vering watching. They had been disappointed in their ex-
pectations, and might be again. They concluded that there
was time enough yet to arouse. They would be sure not to
lose the opportunity of securing an earthly treasure. It
would be safe to get all of this world they could. And in
securing this object, they lost all anxiety and interest in the
appearing of the Master. They became indifferent and
careless, as though His coming were yet in the distance. But
while their interest was buried up in their worldly gains, the
work closed in the heavenly sanctuary, and they were unpre-
pared."—"Testimonies for the Church," volume 2, page 191.
6.
"If such had only known that the work of Christ in the
heavenly sanctuary would close
so soon,
how differently
would they have conducted themselves! how earnestly would
they have watched! The Master, anticipating all this, gives
them timely warning in the command to w'atch. He distinctly
states the suddenness of His coming [from His mediatorial
work]. He does not measure the time, lest we shall neglect
a momentary preparation, and in our indolence look ahead
to the time when we think He will come, and defer the
preparation. 'Watch ye therefore; for ye know not.' . . .
Those not found waiting and watching, are finally surprised
in their unfaithfulness. The Master comes, and instead of
being ready to open unto Him immediately, they are locked
in worldly slumber, and are lost at last."—"Testimonies for
the Church," volume 2, pages 191, 192.
7.
"I saw that many were neglecting the preparation so
needful, and were looking to the time of 'refreshing' and the
`latter rain' to fit them to stand in the day of the Lord, and
to live in His sight. Oh, how many I saw in the time of
trouble [after the sudden coming of Jesus out of the heav-
enly sanctuary] without a shelter! They had neglected the
needful preparation, therefore they could not receive the re-
freshing that all must have to fit them to live in the sight of
a holy God. Those who refuse to be hewed by the prophets,
and fail to purify their souls in obeying the whole truth, and
who are willing to believe that their condition is far better
than it really is, will come up to the time of the falling of
the plagues, and then see that they needed to be hewed and
squared for the building. But there will be no time then to
do it, and no Mediator to plead their cause before the•Father."
—"Early Writings," page 71.